RoadVitals

1996 Toyota Corolla Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 16, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 129 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Apr 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE FUSES SHORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REWIRED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUSES. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH FORCE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10706145
Incident
Mar 5, 2014
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DURING DAMP, COLD WEATHER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10393945
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
110,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 2003
Fire reported

CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050318
Mileage
44,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 5, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SOCKET AND THE CONDITION IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
8017928
Incident
Sep 15, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 21, 2002

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS SOCKETS, THE INSIDE CONNECTOR IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WHEN THEY GET HOT AND OLD IT MELTS, LOOSING THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE BOTTON OF THE LIGHT BULB, I HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM TOYOTA A NEW WIRING SET, BUT THE NEW ONES ARE MADE OF THE SAME PLASTIC, SO THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN, I HAVE SEEM PLENTY OF TOYOTAS COROLLAS WITH REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTION IN THE ROAD. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
758462
Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 2001
Fire reported

AFTER TRYING TO START VEHICLE ENGINE WAS MAKING SOME NOISES, AND CONSUMER DECIDED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. WHEN DOING SO, VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ON. AFTERWARD, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
899146
Incident
Nov 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 2001

BRAKE LIGHT AND TAILIGHT GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID
886278
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 26, 2000
Crash reportedFire reported

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 10/23/00, IN WHICH I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. LUKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS OVER $6,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO, IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED ME MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED MY ALTERNATOR TO BLOW, AND THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER, AND NOT ONLY COULD THEY NOT FIND THE CAUSE, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER TOWING FEES, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ALL NEW FUSES, TAIL LIGHT AND WIRE HARNESS I SPENT $500.*AK

NHTSA ID
735157
Incident
Feb 25, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 14, 2000

I SUSPECT THE ELECTRIC DESIGN HAS PROBLEMS, WHICH CAUSE THE STOP LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THE BULBS ARE USUALLY OK IF YOU TEST THEM. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OCCURANCES ON 1994 THROUGH 1996 MODELS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS.

NHTSA ID
731440
Incident
Jul 25, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 1997

RADIO FAILED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
602692
Incident
Jul 1, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .